Scottish Executive

Asthma

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent findings of the Global Initiative for Asthma that Scotland has the highest incidence of childhood asthma in the world, what consideration it has given to making asthma a national priority in primary health care.

Malcolm Chisholm: In 2002, Scotland took part in an international study of asthma and allergies in Schoolchildren which suggested that, while the diagnosis of asthma had become more common since 1995, the prevalence of symptoms had declined. The Global Initiative for Asthma has suggested that Scotland has the highest incidence of the symptoms of asthma among 13 to 14 year olds of the countries involved in their survey.

  Both these studies have yet to be formally published but, when available, will inform policy development by the Executive and the clinical practices of NHSScotland.

  The disease registers and the reviews, including medication reviews, (established in the Quality Framework) in the new General Medical Services contract provide an opportunity to standardise the management of asthma in line with good practice and available evidence-based guidelines. The new contracts for other health professionals enable the use of the expertise of other health professionals in the wider primary care teams such as the community pharmacists in the review and management of people with asthma.

Culture

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote the availability of Scottish literature in Scotland’s major bookshops.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Scottish Arts Council, working closely with the Scottish Publishers Association, is supporting a range of initiatives designed to promote the commercial success of Scottish literature. The Council’s Review of Scottish Publishing in the 21st Century , to be published shortly, will provide a further focus on support for, and consolidation of, the sector.

Environment

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in respect of sewage flooding in Campbeltown.

Allan Wilson: As Ross Finnie’s response to your previous related written question S2W-4617 on 15 December 2003, and my reply of 21 January 2004 to your letter of 17 November 2003 made clear, this is an operational matter for Scottish Water. In the normal course, the Chief Executive of Scottish Water would be asked to reply to you.

  I understand that he wrote to you in November and December last year about this issue, and Scottish Water will be writing again shortly to all stakeholders with a further update on progress at Campbeltown. In these circumstances, I have nothing to add to the content of that correspondence.

Football

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support Scottish football in light of recent financial difficulties in the Scottish Premier League.

Mr Frank McAveety: The most effective contribution the Executive can make to Scottish football is ensuring that there is a greater pool of healthy, physically active young people available and willing to become involved in football. That is why we are investing significant sums in the Active Schools Programme.

  For the past 18 months, the Executive has also been fully involved in the independent review of youth football commissioned by the Scottish Football Association. Ministers are currently considering proposals from the SFA on how to take forward the review’s recommendations. An announcement is expected shortly.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the removal of unhealthy food and drink from vending machines in schools.

Euan Robson: We expect all schools to end the active promotion or advertising of fizzy, sugary soft drinks and snacks high in fat and salt. Where vending machines are present they should promote healthier options/brands such as water and fruit juices rather than high sugar soft drinks.

Higher Education

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the Phase 3 report of its Higher Education Review.

Mr Jim Wallace: I received the report on Friday 27 February. The report is being published today, and copies will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 31377).

Housing

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the availability of affordable housing in urban Scotland.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Executive is engaged in a dialogue with key stakeholders about affordable housing. This is essential to ensure the right action is taken in future to ensure that affordable housing of the right size, tenure, type, and quality is provided in the right places in both urban and rural areas.

  Expenditure in 2003-04 by Communities Scotland to increase the availability of affordable housing in urban Scotland will exceed £175 million.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the establishment of an independent inspectorate for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Colin Boyd: The proposal to establish an inspectorate for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) was the subject of consultation at the end of 2003. The outcome of this consultation was a broad welcome for these proposals. I have published a summary of the responses at www.crownoffice.gov.uk. Following this positive response, the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland started work at the end of December 2003, under the leadership of an interim inspector.

  The Scottish Executive will this week advertise the post of Chief Inspector of Prosecution of Scotland. The creation of the inspectorate is an important step for the COPFS as it strives to build its reputation as an open and accountable public service and secure the public’s confidence in its ability to prosecute crime.

Justice

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in respect of the prosecution of racially aggravated crime.

Mrs Elish Angiolini: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service continues to be committed to the robust prosecution of racially aggravated crime in Scotland. In the financial year 2002-03, the police reported 1,819 cases involving racially aggravated harassment and behaviour or separate statutory racial aggravations to Procurators Fiscal. No proceedings were taken in only 5% of these cases.

  The department has also completed a review of all cases involving racial aggravation reported to Procurators Fiscal in the period October 2002 – March 2003. Following consideration of the results of this review, the Lord Advocate has decided to extend the range of disposals available to Procurators Fiscal to include the issuing of warning letters in exceptional circumstances only.

  The department’s Race Strategy Group, which I chair, will continue to monitor prosecution practice and ensure that the effective and robust prosecution of racially aggravated crime in Scotland remains a priority for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Meat Industry

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of Scottish butchers regarding the implementation of the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003.

Allan Wilson: My officials have had regular discussions with representatives of Scottish butchers regarding the implementation of the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003.

  The Scottish Federation of Meat Traders’ Associations was invited to comment during the consultation exercise on these regulations, conducted last year. Officials met with the federation’s office bearers as recently as 3 February this year to discuss enforcement practices and related issues.

Meat Industry

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many abattoirs there currently are and how many have closed down in the last 20 years.

Mr Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency, that there are currently 44 red meat and nine poultry meat abattoirs licensed by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland.

  In 1984, the number of licensed red meat abattoirs was 79 indicating that 35 premises have ceased operations in the last 20 years.

  Figures available for poultry meat abattoirs indicate there were seven licensed premises in 1989, two less than at present.

National Health Service

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its health-related helplines will be transferred to NHS 24; what resources will be transferred, and whether any staff posts will be reduced as a result.

Malcolm Chisholm: The operation of the Healthy Living and Breathing Space helplines has transferred to NHS 24. We expect to allocate some £700,000 to NHS 24 to cover the operation of these lines in 2004-05. This will allow the Breathing Space  service to be rolled-out nationally. No reduction in staff posts has resulted from these transfers.

Organ Donation

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change the organ donor scheme from a voluntary opt-in scheme to one of presumed consent.

Malcolm Chisholm: We are not yet convinced that an opt-out system is the right way forward. We believe that a voluntary approach which allows donors and their relatives to agree to give organs is the best.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29 by Nicol Stephen on 2 June 2003, what road safety improvements are planned for the A90 around Laurencekirk and when such improvements will be carried out.

Nicol Stephen: Following the implementation of the package of measures at the A90/A937 south junction, which I referred to in my answer to S2W-29, the junction was monitored to ascertain their effectiveness. It has been concluded that some alterations to the signing and lining would be beneficial in increasing driver awareness. These changes will be implemented during February 2004. The junction will continue to be monitored and a CCTV camera will be installed to assist in this process once a suitable electricity supply has been provided.

  Analysis of the accident figures for the A90/937 north junction confirms that no further investigation of the junction is necessary at this time. However, accident figures for the junction will continue to be monitored.

  Road safety at the A90/B9120 junction is currently being investigated by BEAR Scotland Ltd and a report is due to be submitted to the Scottish Executive by the end of January 2004. It is expected that any remedial measures identified will be progressed during 2004-05.

School Meals

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce free nutritious school breakfasts, lunches and tea-time snacks for all primary school children on a similar basis to Hull City Council in order to improve children’s health, nutrition and educational attainment.

Euan Robson: We have no plans to introduce a similar scheme to that in operation in Hull. Hungry  for Success was set up as part of a whole school approach to establish nutritional standards for school meals; improve the presentation and to improve general take up and eliminate any stigma attached to taking free school meals. In addition, we are assisting local authorities in setting up free fruit schemes for pupils in primaries one and two.

Scottish Opera

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport next plans to meet Scottish Opera and what issues will be discussed.

Mr Frank McAveety: Scottish Opera has been asked to prepare a forward business plan, based on the available budget, for consideration by the Scottish Arts Council and the Executive. I expect to meet the Scottish Opera Board and Scottish Arts Council to discuss the plan after its submission.

Small Businesses

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support small businesses in complying with Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 when it comes into force.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Disability Discrimination Act is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Department of Work and Pensions is working to ensure that service providers and employers are prepared in good time for the new duties coming into force in October 2004. The enterprise networks are making information available to Scottish businesses.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Childcare Voucher Scheme

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer how many (a) MSPs and (b) staff have been issued with vouchers under the Parliament’s childcare voucher scheme in each calendar year since the inception of the scheme and what the total cost was for each year.

Mr Duncan McNeil (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The number of MSPs and staff that have been issued with vouchers under the Parliament’s childcare voucher scheme in each calendar year since the inception of the scheme and the total cost for each year is as follows:

  

  
 Jan 02 to Dec 
  02
 Jan 03 to Dec 
  03
 Jan 04 to Feb 
  04


 MSPs
 5
 7
 5


 MSPs Staff
 24
 29
 22


 SPCB Staff
 46
 48
 35


 Total Cost (including. service charge of 
  6.85%)
 £62,177.48
 £76,075.98
 £13,094.45